Let's work on the path forward for Estes

The other side

A March 6 opinion piece in the Trail-Gazette took exception "to the notion that the Town of Estes Park hasn't fostered economic development in the last 35 years," citing the Estes Valley Economic Development Task Force as a source of such statements. Let's set the record straight. The task force has never made such a claim, which misunderstands the challenge before our community. "fostering" economic growth and having a carefully designed economic development strategy are two different things.

The Economic Development Task Force published a preliminary report at the end of December. That report includes a six-page history of economic development in Estes Park. That history begins: "The Town of Estes Park has been in the economic development business, with varying degrees of success, almost from the date of its incorporation in 1917." The history acknowledges the dramatic downtown improvements financed by urban renewal. It also notes the transition in tourism marketing from an underfunded chamber of commerce to today's highly successful Visit Estes Park.

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Knowing the history of economic development is helpful -- but looking forward is essential. That is the mission of the Economic Development Task Force. Last year the task force interviewed eleven economic development experts from communities across Colorado. We also conducted in-depth research of the Estes Valley's changing demographics, and obtained prior reports that identified the need for a community-wide economic development strategy.

Economic success in the 21st century depends upon proactively creating an environment that attracts and retains the type of businesses that can create good-paying, year-round jobs. It also means focusing on the types of businesses that enhance the community we live in, not those businesses that would detract from it.

One statement by the March 6 opinion piece deserves reiteration: "There is always more work to be done." There have been repeated efforts to identify and address our economic problems, especially in the last decade. Mayor Bill Pinkham and other community members provided leadership in those efforts.

The task force is thus building upon prior efforts to foster a community-wide strategy. Experts the Task Force interviewed as well as DCI's experts agreed: economic growth (in which things are allowed to happen by natural order) and having an economic development strategy are not the same thing.

Looking forward is also the goal of the community assessment process conducted by Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI). DCI conducted group meetings with 135 community residents, including the town board and staff, leaders from other taxing districts, businesses and local residents.

Both the task force and DCI recognize that tourism and retirement are the essential building blocks of Estes Park's economy. Tourism and retirement will remain the Estes Valley's major economic drivers -- no matter what additional steps we undertake.

Still, gaps remain. The task force report identifies both business attraction, and business retention and expansion programs as the "areas of greatest need." Helping existing businesses will benefit our tourism economy. The library's recent partnership with the Larimer Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is only one example of such a program.

Similarly, attracting businesses that are not tourism-dependent can create high-paying jobs.

Yet in today's Estes Park there is no economic development office to attract or assist them.

The dangers of inaction are real. The Estes Valley has reached the point where pending infrastructure costs (such as roads and sanitation) are outstripping the taxes collected from tourists, threatening the very quality of life that all of us cherish. Last summer's two local fires, and the uncertain impact of pending sequestration cuts on Rocky Mountain National Park demonstrate just how vulnerable we are to unanticipated events.

We cannot expect town hall alone to solve all our problems. It will require commitments from every facet of our community. What is past is prologue. We call on our community's elected leaders to join with other community leaders in focusing on the path forward.

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